A boy who stabbed his teacher four times with a knife had been bullied by other pupils, his family say.

The students of Te Puke High School are receiving ongoing support after one of their peers stabbed a maths teacher during class yesterday.

Principals say teachers need the power to search students as schools become increasingly violent.

As blood dripped from stab wounds inflicted by one of his students, maths teacher Steve Hose yelled at the rest of his class to get out.

Hanover Finance and its part-owner Mark Hotchin are taking a small investor to the High Court over $697.96 owed to the man's teenage daughter.